DUSHANBE, December 29, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- President Emomali Rahmon has made gifts to all orphanage kids and boarding school students across the country on the occasion of New Year, the presidential press service reports.

Some 20,000 kids and teenagers are now educated in orphanages and boarding schools in Tajikistan.

On Wednesday December 28, Emomali Rahmon visited the vocational lyceum for children with disabilities in Dushanbe.

This institution was established in 1948 as vocational center for invalids of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and thousands of residents of Tajikistan have taken vocational training courses at this center.

Dushanbe’s vocational lyceum is now home for 266 children with disabilities.

2 million somoni have been provided from the Presidential Reserve Fund this year for renovation of the lyceum.  Besides, more than 2 million somoni have been provided from the national budget.

The vocational school for children with disabilities offers vocational training on the following specialties: computer network operator; television and radio serviceman; accounting; sewer; and worker of the shoemaking industry.

In 2010, 49 of 162 lyceum graduates entered higher educational institutions in Tajikistan and 81 others were placed in jobs.

Over the last two years, ministries and agencies of the country have reportedly provided more than 2million worth of assistance to local boarding schools and orphanages.